The Government of Ghana has reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to sustainable urban development, affordable housing, and climate-smart infrastructure at the Resumed Second Session of the United Nations Habitat Assembly held from Thursday, 29th to Friday, 30th May 2025 in Nairobi, Kenya.

Delivering Ghana’s national statement, the Honourable Minister for Works, Housing and Water Resources, Kenneth Gilbert Adjei, underscored the country’s strategic integration of the New Urban Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into its national and local development frameworks.

Representing President John Dramani Mahama and the people of Ghana, Hon.  Adjei extended appreciation to UN-Habitat for its continued partnership, particularly in supporting initiatives such as the Ghana Smart SDG Cities Programme. This flagship programme, implemented with the support of UN-Habitat, is designed to promote localized implementation of the 2030 Agenda through data-driven planning, SDG alignment tools, and certification incentives for municipalities.

Highlighting Ghana’s ongoing urban challenges, the Minister disclosed that the nation continues to face a housing deficit exceeding 1.8 million units, with 56.7 percent of its population now residing in urban centres. He stressed the urgency of structured urban planning, accessible housing, and inclusive infrastructure development to match the pace of urbanisation.

To address these needs, the Government of Ghana has launched the District Housing Programme, an innovative initiative promoting investment in climate-smart, affordable housing in underserved districts, supported by complementary infrastructure to drive balanced spatial development across the country.

In line with global decarbonisation efforts, Ghana in 2024 unveiled a National Roadmap to Decarbonise the Building and Construction Sector, in collaboration with UNEP, UN-Habitat, and UNOPS. The roadmap outlines Ghana’s commitment to reducing emissions from the built environment and building climate-resilient infrastructure.

Hon.  Adjei expressed Ghana’s full support for the ten resolutions adopted at the Assembly, as well as the outcomes of the 2023 Open-Ended Committee of Permanent Representatives (OECPR). He affirmed Ghana’s endorsement of the 2026–2029 Strategic Plan of UN-Habitat, as well as global initiatives focusing on adequate housing, people-centred smart cities, and inclusive stakeholder engagement policies.

The Minister Adjei reaffirmed Ghana’s collective resolve to work collaboratively with Member States, development partners, and stakeholders to advance the SDGs, the New Urban Agenda, and the African Union’s Agenda 2063.

“The vision of inclusive, resilient, and sustainable cities is one we must pursue with unity, innovation, and resolve,” the Minister declared.

The UN-Habitat Assembly serves as the highest global decision-making body on sustainable urbanisation and human settlements. The 2025 session brought together government ministers, mayors, urban experts, and civil society organisations from around the world to chart a forward-looking agenda for urban resilience and equity.

Source: Darling Maame Efua Cann

 (Public Relations Unit MLGCRA)

Ghana’s Deputy Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Hon. Rita Naa Odoley Sowah (MP), articulated Ghana’s position on SDG localisation"at a high-level side event on Multi-Level Governance for SDG Localisation held on Wednesday, 28th May 2025, as part of the resumed second session of the United Nations Habitat Assembly in Nairobi.

Representing Ghana, Hon. Sowah delivered a compelling address that highlighted the country's structured and inclusive approach to localising the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Her presentation showcased Ghana’s strategic integration of SDG targets into national and local planning systems, while reinforcing the government’s commitment to driving impactful urban and local development through innovation, data, and partnerships.

She explained that Ghana’s governance architecture for SDG implementation is anchored on strong coordination between national and sub-national institutions. At the national level, Hon. Sowah emphasized the leadership role of the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) in setting development frameworks and issuing planning guidelines aligned with the SDGs. She also underscored the contributions of the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, working with the Ministry of Finance, in ensuring that local planning and budget processes reflect global and national priorities.

The Deputy Minister spotlighted the work of Ghana’s SDGs Advisory Unit at the Presidency and its vital role in aligning government efforts with the global 2030 Agenda. She also noted that Ghana’s national policies, including the National Urban Policy and the National Slum Upgrading and Prevention Strategy, embody the principles of alignment, adaptation, and adoption of the SDGs, in line with the UN-Habitat’s Partnership Platform for Localizing the SDGs.

Drawing from her Ministry’s experience, Hon. Sowah highlighted the Ghana Smart SDG Cities Programme as a flagship initiative currently being implemented across ten Assemblies, with support from UN-Habitat. She stressed that the initiative is advancing integrated urban planning, data-driven governance, and community-centred development solutions in rapidly growing cities.

In reflecting on progress at the local level, she commended the pioneering efforts of the Accra Metropolitan, Ga West Municipal, and Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assemblies in producing Voluntary Local Reviews (VLRs), which demonstrate Ghana’s commitment to transparency and results in SDG delivery.

Monitoring and evaluation, she explained, remains a cornerstone of Ghana’s approach, with NDPC templates adopted across all levels of government to track contributions to the SDGs. She also affirmed the role of Regional Coordinating Councils in supervising and evaluating Local Authorities under Ghana’s decentralised system.

To sustain progress, Hon. Sowah pointed to the importance of institutional support systems such as the Inter-Ministerial Coordinating Committee on Decentralisation, the Institute of Local Government Studies, and the Office of the Head of Local Government Service, all of which play critical roles in policy guidance and capacity-building.

In her concluding remarks, the Deputy Minister expressed Ghana’s readiness to work closely with UN-Habitat and other development partners in implementing the New Urban Agenda, adopting the forthcoming UN-Habitat Strategic Plan (2026–2029), and promoting people-centred smart city development.

She cited the Participatory Slum Upgrading Programme (PSUP) in Ga Mashie as a practical example of how collaborative and community-based initiatives can transform the lives of urban dwellers.

“Ghana is not only localising the SDGs; we are living them. Through strong governance, empowered communities, and global partnerships, we are committed to building sustainable, inclusive cities that leave no one behind,” Hon. Sowah stated.

The Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs (MLGCRA) has welcomed a high-level delegation from the newly established Africa Centre for Nature-Based Climate Action (AC4NCA), a civil society organisation championing ecosystem-based responses to climate change. The engagement formed part of AC4NCA’s broader stakeholder outreach strategy to introduce its mission and explore avenues for collaboration with government in fostering climate resilience and sustainable development.

The delegation, led by the esteemed Board Chair of AC4NCA, Rev. Dr. Joyce Rosalind Aryee, held strategic discussions with senior officials of the Ministry on aligning efforts to localise climate action through nature-based solutions (NbS). AC4NCA, though only three months in operation, has positioned itself as a pan-African platform for promoting community-led, ecologically sustainable interventions that align with both the Paris Agreement and local development needs.

Chairing the meeting on behalf of the Ministry, Mr. Dela Kemevor, Director of General Administration, extended a warm welcome to the delegation and conveyed the Ministry’s appreciation for AC4NCA’s vision and proactive approach. He commended the Centre’s emphasis on nature-based and community-driven strategies, noting their critical relevance in responding to the growing threats posed by climate change.

Mr. Kemevor underscored the important role civil society organisations can play in complementing government interventions. “Our Ministry is committed to driving resilience at the grassroots level,” he stated. “We see a strategic opportunity in this engagement with AC4NCA to integrate innovative, locally anchored nature-based solutions into ongoing programmes across the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs).”

He further highlighted ongoing initiatives being implemented by the Ministry to enhance environmental sustainability and climate resilience, including mainstreaming climate change into local development plans and supporting sustainable land use practices. He expressed confidence that a partnership with AC4NCA would amplify these efforts through synergies in advocacy, implementation, and community mobilisation—especially leveraging the Ministry’s networks with traditional and religious leaders.

In her presentation, Rev. Dr. Aryee introduced AC4NCA as a pan-African civil society platform grounded in the belief that African communities possess the indigenous knowledge, adaptive capacities, and collective will to respond to the climate crisis. She highlighted the Centre’s thematic priorities, including reforestation, biodiversity conservation, forest protection, and climate-smart agriculture, all tailored to respond to the continent’s unique vulnerabilities.

“Africa contributes the least to global emissions but remains among the most affected by the climate crisis,” she remarked. “At AC4NCA, we are committed to changing this narrative, not by lamenting our vulnerability, but by transforming it into action through inclusive, grassroots-driven climate solutions.”

The delegation reiterated the Centre’s commitment to social equity, gender inclusion, and youth empowerment, noting that their programming will deliberately engage women, young people, indigenous communities, and marginalised groups. These are often the most affected by climate change, yet are custodians of valuable ecological knowledge and resilience strategies.

Both parties expressed optimism about deepening collaboration in the coming months and pledged to identify immediate and medium-term entry points for joint action. The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to fostering strong institutional linkages that will accelerate climate action through locally owned and ecologically sustainable solutions.

Source: Sandra Owusu Asamoah

 (Public Relations Unit MLGCRA)